Garment hanger



Aug. 30, 1955 P. BRAUNSTEIN GARMENT HANGER Filed Dec. 5, 1952 mm my NN m 5 United States Patent GARMENT HANGER Paul Braunstein, New York, N. Y.

Application December 5, 1952, Serial No. 324,291

1 Claim. (Cl. 223-94) This invention relates to garment hangers and, in particular, to a garment hanger which can be collapsed.

An object of this invention is to provide a garment hanger which may be readily inserted and withdrawn from the neck of a garment without opening the neck of the garment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a garment hanger which may be easily extended for use with a garment as well as easily collapsed for storage or for packing into a traveling bag.

A further object is to provide a hanger which is fabricated substantially from a resilient material.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a garment hanger constructed according to the present invention, the solid lines indicating the arms of the hanger in the extended position, and the dotted lines showing the arms when in a collapsed position.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the center portion of the hanger of Figure l with parts broken away and in section.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are used throughout, the reference numeral indicates generally a garment hanger constructed according to the present invention. The hanger 10 comprises an upstanding center support 11 fabricated wholly of a resilient material, for example, a suitable plastic or rubber material. The support 11 is provided with opposed slots 12 and 13 which extend longitudinally of and inwardly from the side edges thereof. A pair of vertically disposed arms 14 and 15 are arranged in end to end spaced relation, as shown by the solid lines in Figure 1, and each has its facing end, 16 and 17 respectively, extending into the corresponding one of the slots 12 and 13; the end 16 extending into the slot 12 and the end 17 into the slot 13.

The center support 11 is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 19, 20, 21, and 22 which extend transversely through the side walls of the slots 12 and 13 and are arranged in pairs; one pair, 19 and 20, being located contiguous to the upper end of the support 11 and the other pair, 21 and 22, being located contiguous to the lower end of the support 11, as seen in Figure 1. Pivot members 23 and 24 are carried by the arm 14 and project from the opposite sides thereof. In a like manner, pivot members 25 and 26 are carried by the arm 15 and project from the opposite sides thereof. The pivot members 23 and 24 are journaled in the opening 21 and the pivot members 25 and 26 are journaled similarly in the opening 22 to provide the axes about which the arms 14 and 15 move when urged from their end to end spaced relation position to the collapsed side by side position, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1.

Nubs 27 and 28 are formed in the arms 14 and 15 respectively and project from the sides of the facing ends 16 and 17. The nubs 27 and 28 are engageable with the complemental openings 19 and 20 formed in the adjacent portion of the support 11 when the arms 14 and 15 are in the end to end spaced relation position, shown in solid line in Figure 1, and together form interengaging means for holding the arms in the latter position.

A hook 30 is carried by the center support 11 and projects from the upper end thereof for engagement with a supporting rod or surface, not shown. The arms of the garment hanger 10, as shown, include the conventional cut-out portions 31 and 32 as well as the recessed hooks 33 and 34. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the portion of the floor of each of the slots 12 and 13 adjacent the lower end of the support 11 as well as the lower portion of the facing ends 16 and 17 of the arms 14 and 15 are cut away to permit the arms 14 and 15 to pivot freely. The edges of the slots 12 and 13 are slightly rounded to facilitate the entrance of the nubs 27 and 28 into the slots 12 and 13.

To collapse the garment hanger 10, the arms 14 and 15 are grasped and urged toward each other, pivoting about the axes provided by the pivot members 23, 24, 25, and 26. When suflicient pressure has been exerted upon the arms, the nubs 27 and 28 will force apart the resilient side walls of the respective slots 12 and 13 and free themselves from the restraint of the seats provided by openings 19 and 20. The arms are then moved to the collapsed side by side position shown in dotted line in Figure 1. In order to lock the arms in their end to end spaced relation position, the arms are urged apart until the nubs 27 and 28 abut the side edges of the support 11. Upon further pressure, the nubs force the resilient side walls of the support 11 apart until they engage the openings 19 and 20 and are seated therein.

What is claimed is: I

A garment hanger comprising an upstanding support fabricated wholly of resilient material, said support being provided with opposed slots extending longitudinally of and inwardly from the side edges thereof, a pair of arms arranged in end to end spaced relation and each having the facing end extending into the corresponding one of said slots and pivotally connected to said support for movement form the end to end spaced relation position to a collapsed side by side position, a hook projecting from the upper end of said support for engagement With a supporting rod, and interengaging means on the facing ends of said arms and on said support for holding said arms in the end to end spaced relation position, said interengaging means including a nub spaced above the pivotal connection of said arms and projecting from the side of the facing end of each of said arms and engageable with a complemental opening formed inwardly from the free end of said support when said arms are in the end to end spaced relation position for holding said arms in the latter position.

Wesner July 1, 1913 Brown Feb. 6, 1951 

